Rangers at Sabres tonight

Well, two of the three games that affected your boys went the wrong way last night. One of the two most important games worked out great, when the Buffalo Baby Buffaloes lost to the Leaves and snapped their three-game winning streak. Carolina’s win, though, kept the Rangers’ playoff berth in doubt, left the Magic Number at 8.

So now nobody has any games in hand on the Rangers, who have six left, and the Rangers have a game in hand on the Habs.

The Rangers begin a streak of four games in six nights, and back-to-backs (at Nassau tomorrow). But, really, if they win tonight they are golden, aren’t they? Take care of business tonight and leave Buffalo to battle Carolina for eighth. The Former Whalers play Montreal tonight at home.

Here are the pre-game notes, courtesy of the Rangers:

NEW YORK RANGERS at BUFFALO SABRESWednesday, Mar. 30, 7:00 p.m.
HSBC Arena • Buffalo, NY
Rangers: 41-30-5 (87 pts)Sabres: 38-28-9 (85 pts)* All information through NHL games on Mar. 28TONIGHT’S GAME:The Rangers will face-off against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena (7:00 p.m.), to begin a back-to-back set. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Atlantic Division standings, and seventh in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 41-30-5 (87 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Boston Bruins, 1-0, on Saturday at TD Garden to extend their season-high point streak to seven games (6-0-1), and are now 8-1-1 in their last 10 contests. The seven-game point streak is the longest for New York since last season from Dec. 31 to Jan. 12 (4-0-3), and their 23 road wins are the most for the Rangers since 1993-94 (24-16-2). The Sabres have posted a 38-29-9 (85 pts) record to rank eighth in the Eastern Conference. Following the contest, the Rangers will face-off against the New York Islanders on Thursday, Mar. 31, at Nassau Coliseum (7:00 p.m.), to close out their back-to-back set.BROADCAST INFORMATION:TV: MSG 2
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show with Bill Pidto and Pat LaFontaine
7:00 p.m. – Rangers at Sabres
Broadcasters: Sam Rosen (Play-By-Play), Joe Micheletti (Analyst), John Giannone (In-Game Reporter)Radio: 970 The Apple and newyorkrangers.com
6:30 p.m. – Rangers Pre-Game Show
7:00 p.m. – Rangers at Sabres
Broadcasters: Kenny Albert (Play-By-Play), Dave Maloney (Analyst)

RANGERS vs. SABRES:

All-Time: 57-70-25-5 overall (33-27-15-3 at home, 24-43-10-2 on the road)

2010-11: Tonight is the fourth and final meeting this season, and the second of two at HSBC Arena. The Rangers own a 2-1-0 record thus far, including a 1-0-0 mark on the road. Their last two meetings were decided by one goal.

Last Season: New York was 1-2-1 overall and 1-1-0 at Buffalo. Three of their four meetings were decided by one goal, including one that required overtime.

The Rangers rank eighth with a 23-14-1 (47 pts) record on the road; the Sabres are tied for 21st with an 18-16-4 (40 pts) mark at home

New York is 10-6-2 vs. the Northeast Division; Buffalo is 6-9-3 vs. the Atlantic Division

Henrik Lundqvist is 8-7-2 with a 2.52 goals against average in 17 career regular season games vs. Buffalo

Vinny Prospal has tallied a team-high, 12 goals and 30 points in 49 career regular season games vs. Buffalo; Bryan McCabe leads the team with 20 assists in 66 career regular season contests vs. the Sabres; Brandon Dubinsky has recorded 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 13 career regular season games vs. Buffalo

New York lists two former Sabres on their roster: Martin Biron (1995-96 – 2006-07); Chris Drury (2003-04 – 2006-07)

Buffalo lists no former Rangers on their roster

SPECIAL TEAMS:The Blueshirts have posted a plus-13 rating on special teams (PPG+SHG minus PPGA+SHGA) this season, which is tied for fourth in the league.

Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in four power play opportunities (8:00) on Saturday at Boston, and are now 13-52 (25.0%) in their last 15 games. New York ranks 13th overall (48-270, 17.8%) and is tied for 17th on the road (20-127, 15.8%). The Rangers are 4-12 (10:42) in five-on-three situations (last – 3/20 at PIT), and 0-6 (8:36) when four-on-three (last – 3/24 vs. OTT). Shorthanded goals allowed (5): 11/20 at MIN (Cullen); 12/5 vs. OTT (Kelly); 1/2 at FLA (Weiss); 1/16 vs. PHI (Richards); 3/20 at PIT (Kunitz).

BACK-TO-BACKSThe Rangers will begin their 17th of 18 back-to-back sets tomorrow at Buffalo. New York is 9-6-1 (3-2-0 at home, 6-4-1 on the road) in the first game of back-to-backs. The Blueshirts are 11-5-0 (4-2-0 at home, 7-3-0 on the road) in the second game this season, having out-scored their opponent, 43-26, in those games. Over the last two seasons, New York is 20-7-2 in the back-end of back-to-back sets, including an 8-3-1 mark at MSG and 12-4-1 on the road over the span.

CLOSING TIMEThe Blueshirts are the only team in the NHL who is undefeated when leading after two periods, posting a record of 27-0-0 in those contests. The Rangers rank fourth in the league with a plus-21 goal differential in the third period (80 goals for, 59 goals against).

THE PUCK STOPS HEREHenrik Lundqvist was named the NHL’s Third Star of the Week for the period ending Mar. 27 after posting a 2-0-1 record, 0.32 goals against average, .987 save percentage and two shutouts in three games. On Saturday, Lundqvist stopped 26 shots in a 1-0 victory at Boston to establish a new career-high with his league leading, 11th shutout of the season, while appearing in his 400th career game. His 11 shutouts are tied for second in team history for most shutouts in a season, and are the most by a Ranger since John Ross Roach posted 13 shutouts in 1928-29. Lundqvist also posted his 30th win of the season on Mar. 18 vs. Montreal to extend his NHL record by recording 30 or more wins in six consecutive seasons to begin his career, and extend his franchise record by posting his sixth straight 30-win season. Lundqvist has appeared in 20 straight games entering tomorrow’s contest at Buffalo (beginning on Feb. 11), which is one game shy of his career-high, 21-game streak from Dec. 23, 2006 to Feb. 15, 2007.

40 WINSNew York won its 40th game of the season with a 1-0 victory vs. Florida on Mar. 22. It is the fifth time in the last six years the Rangers posted 40 or more wins in a season, marking only the second time in franchise history the team accomplished the feat (1968-69 – 1973-74). The Blueshirts are one of five Eastern Conference teams to have registered at least five seasons of 40+ wins since 2005-06 (Montreal, New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh).

STRONG RETURNSRangers’ forwards Ryan Callahan and Vinny Prospal rank first and second on the team in scoring, respectively, since returning from injury in early February. Callahan leads the team with 13 goals and 23 points in 23 games since returning from injury on Feb. 1 vs. Pittsburgh, following a 19-game hiatus due to a broken hand suffered on Dec. 15 at Pittsburgh. Prospal leads the team with 12 assists and ranks second with 17 points in 22 games since he made his season debut on Feb. 3 vs. New Jersey after missing the first 53 games of the season with a knee injury.

POWER SURGESince acquiring defenseman Bryan McCabe on Feb. 26, the Rangers power play has tallied 10 goals in 44 attempts (22.7%) in 13 games. McCabe has registered five power play points (one goal, four assists) over the span.

COMPARED TO LAST SEASON…The Rangers have posted seven more wins and nine more points compared to last season through 76 games (34-32-10, 76 points in 2009-10), having tallied 17 more goals (218 this season, 201 last season) while allowing 25 fewer goals against (181 this season, 206 last season). New York has also shown a six-goal improvement while shorthanded compared to 2009-10 (11 this season, five last season).

AMONG THE LEAGUE LEADERSThe Rangers lead the league in hits (2,164), are tied for fourth in goals against (181), fifth in road wins (23), 12th in goals for (218), rank second in players with at least one game-winning goal (18), fourth in blocked shots (1,213), shorthanded goals (11) and shootout wins (eight), and fourth with a plus-37 goal differential.

THE HOT LIST:

Henrik Lundqvist is 8-1-1 with a 1.67 GAA, .942 Sv% and three shutouts in the last 10 games

Ryan Callahan has recorded 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in the last 19 contests, including seven points (three goals, four assists) in the last six

Artem Anisimov has tallied 10 points (four goals, six assists) in the last 10 games, including six points (two goals, four assists) in the last six

Brandon Dubinsky has registered six points (two goals, four assists) in the last six games

CT – you are spot on! It’s actually pretty humiliating because it’s my fiance’s friend and she basically rearranged her entire party (she is now having it at Rogue) so I could watch the Rangers game because she knew I would never come if it was somewhere without a Hockey TV.

PITTSBURGH—According to a report released by the Pittsburgh Penguins organization Monday, star forward Sidney Crosby, who suffered a severe concussion last January, fatally succumbed to intracranial complications Monday at the age of 23 and is expected to make his first start in nearly three months tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. “Late last night Sidney experienced a severe brain hemorrhage and was rushed to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where doctors were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at 6:30 a.m.,”† Penguins owner Mario Lemieux said in a statement. “We’re really looking forward to seeing ‘Sid The Kid’ back out there on the ice where he belongs, leading this team into the playoffs. It’s a hockey night in Pittsburgh!” Crosby is survived by his parents Troy and Trina and a younger sister Taylor, and, according to head coach Dan Bylsma, should get 18 to 20 minutes of ice time tonight depending on how he feels.

I have never actually been to Ainsworth – they always make it so complicated to get a seat in front of the television showing the game you want to want. It’s like they think their customers just want to watch any sports.

Rogue is a good time. Only on weeknights though. I went there once on a weekend and it was a shoot-show of underage kids completely over served and licking each others faces.

rangers will have maybe their toughest game yet tonight. the way we win this game is come out with a lead. no matter if its just a 1 goal lead. make buff expend even more energy than they did last night to try to tie. by the 3rd they might be gassed and we ould pull one out either ot or shootout. we probably arent beating them in buff in regulation. hope we can, but miller will not give up 4 like last night. TO was playing spoiler and is loose like the isles will be thursday. we will need to get the lead first though. i know we come back alot, but this late in teh season, whoever scores first usually wins. i really want gabby to step up here and win a few for us. these kids cannot carry this team in the playoffs. and we really need to get hank some goal support. he needs a little room for error here. this is a game i look for gabby, ec and prospal to be the best line out there and win one for us. they have to get gabby going or the playoffs could be very short

IMO, I said all along since the allstar break this team wasn’t going to make the playoffs. if the rangers lose this game tonight I feel there is a good chance they will not make the playoffs and end up in ninth place because it appears Carolina is going to make a push to make the playoffs. I truly hope I’m wrong and the blueshirts prove me wrong.

Tonight is really the game that will define this season. We can be the team that closed out the first half – hard fighting, scrappy team that overcomes (almost) every challenge. Or we can be the second half team – the team that came back from the all-star break sucking wind and barely keeping their head above water. A win tonight would go a long way to securing a spot.

For my money I can only guess – I want it to be Christiansen but I think Wolski is a candidate. I think you need Avery tonight. You need all the “max effort” guys on the ice giving it their all. Avery can really focus on getting in the heads of the buffalosers and draw some penalties.

I’d say the game on Sunday carries just as much meaning as tonight. How will the Rangers play against a team that will be looking for payback after a humiliating loss in their previous meeting? In a hostile city where they’ve yet to win.

Well tonight is the biggest game of the season. Then tomorrow night is the biggest game of the season. Then Sunday is the biggest game of the season. And so on and so forth until 8 points are locked up.

The sabres really didn’t look that great last night…they only looked marginally worse than the laffs, which looked utterly pathetic for most of the game. I couldn’t believe I was watching two teams vying for the playoffs. Gotta think Ruff read the riot act to Buffalo…the key will be to come at the Sabres physical and hard, then pummel Miller with shots. They’re not an overly physical team, and if they can get under the skin of the Sabres quick, it’ll be over before it began.

Gotta hope EC is watching via press box, but if I were to gamble on it, I’d say MZA grabs a seat again…which is a shame…I’d love to see him matched up against Nathan “the Gerbil” Gerbe. Mites hockey!

I think you need Avery tonight. You need all the “max effort” guys on the ice giving it their all. Avery can really focus on getting in the heads of the buffalosers and draw some penalties.

***

Buffalo is bottom half in the league in penalty minutes and bottom third in fighting major penalties. I seem to recall that when they met in the playoffs a few years ago they didn’t fall for Avery’s antics.

CT- You’re probably right (I assume that is a real stat even). It makes sense. I guess i just see him being a contributor tonight when we have some weird hangover in the second and need somebody to really dig the puck out and keep some pressure on.

The math behind it isn’t that difficult. Mostly division or multiplication. It’s more about taking a wider scope to measuring the effectiveness of players. Instead of the narrowly defined “shots on goal”, they’ll track “shots directed toward net” and then scale it based on the players that are on the ice. Similar to how on base percentage takes a wider view of a players ability to not make an out rather than batting average.

Oh you lovable homophobes from Canada. Have fun getting tossed around and swept by the Bruins in the 1st round. Thank Bob Gainey for us for Ryan McDonagh and just remember the Scott Gomez era will be over in 3 more years!

I’m just saying, the Red Army team was just a tick better than the likes of Alex Zhitnik, Richard Smehlik, Jason Wooley, et al.

______

LOL yes, “a tick better”

But you can’t deny the fact that even though all those Soviet teams had an amazing offensive power, Tretiak was still their best player. The Soviets never really recovered after the Tretiak retirement.

According to Zip, via our twitter widget on the right, same lineup tonight. As I suspected. Coaches rarely make changes after a game like the one in Boston. And Avery deserves to stay in for another game, at least.

soviets…brilliant in math (universal texts – Andrey Kolmogorov series) and and engineering….but during the 70’s, the amount of poorly made goods..like mis-matched shoes, as example…laying in inventory storage was beyond the beyond

MSG2 is the worst. Time Warner puts it on channel 197 also known as “GAME 2″ channel. It’s a joke. Mine cuts in and out all night. Good thing I will be out watching this game at a bar with real cable access.

I don’t know if Versus will be blacked out. I doubt it because MSG2 is so crappy but then again, money talks and BS walks…

rangers do play, a game today, dont you know, buffalo, need the 2, yes they do, its a must, brandon prust, scores a shorty, hank looks sporty, avery in, commits no sin, goalie named miller, aint no thrilla, i like vanillia, MVP, you all agree, it be the king, words i sing, wearin bling bling, most improved, in a groove, it be bolye, he will foil, wires will coil, water does boil, cally gets the C, next yr youll see, the other A, goes one of 2 ways….could be dubi, or no. 8, i cant wait, dont be late, big game slate…i am ready, my name be eddie….its 3 times, like my rhymes?….lets go rangers, sabers are dangers, away in da mangers…..score a goal, chew some skoal….brutha…

CT, ah, the good old days when people wiped with newspapers. Then toilet paper came to be, and the newspaper industry went down the toilet (so to speak). So now I know who to blame for the doom of newspapers.

Sorry Dudley (and others) – I am also in the category of people who have lost multiple family members from drunk driving. Including those who ended their own lives and those whose lives were ended by others.

Just throwing it out there that we have all done it. As stupid, irresponsible and reckless as it is.

The comparison to high sticking was one I made yesterday – not the crime/penalty itself – just the result. When you get caught the penalty is usually based on the result – blood = 4 minutes and if you get arrested for dui without injuring someone the penalty is less severe than if you did injure someone.

A loss puts them in a very UNCOMFORTABLE position considering we know how much the Isles and Debbies are gonna be primed to hopefully play spoiler on us.

I’m hoping after a 3 game scoring drought that the Rangers explode for a couple early and get the pressure on the Sabres. I DO NOT want to try and come back against Ryan Miller.

I’m glad that Cally has come out and stated how important it is for the Rangers to win this game. They need to have a swagger tonight. Come out with some fire.

And regarding earlier posts…yeah, if Stepan’s mom could make it to the game that’d be great. :-) Quite a nice woman. It’s also pretty sad that I’m now at the age of looking at players’ mothers instead of their wives. JEEZ!!

But I’m happy to know I’m not alone. Not with this group of pervs and boneheads.

Hey Carp, was thinking of you while watching Seinfeld last night. Mandlebaum!

Luckily, I haven’t lost anyone within my family to drunk driving. But I’ve seen way too many lives lost to it in my life. And most of those were innocent young lives who were passengers and victims to someone’s stupidity.

By the way, the latest on Malhotra is that the surgery went well and it will take 6-8 weeks to determine whether it was fully successful. Not surprised. Stanley Chang doesn’t operate on simple peripheral, not complicated retinal detachement. It must’ve been an extensive one, or it involved macula (the yellow, almost cenrally located part responsible for direct vision). Let’s just hope everything goes well and Manny has his vision back. Hockey becomes secondary at the moment.

re: drinking and driving….manny, i know what you meant…..in my younger days….sure have a few and off you go…these days, however, i dont get behind the wheel even after a taste….now, eating 10-20 vicodin and driving…that’s different JUST KIDDING :)

ya know the game is a big one when crocket and tubbs come up from Miami to share the dark cloud of despair.

Last Buffalo game was a stinker so we need to come out strong, play the man, don’t get caught up ice, bang the boards, grind it down low, protect the crease, bang it home, pin them deep, be strong on our skates, rip the twine, put the biscuit in the basket, snipe a corner, go five hole, play a full three periods, take the body, and for goodness sakes…win the game!

Of course, the phrase “put the biscuit in the basket” originated from the habit established in the mid-90s for the Devils’ training staff to add an extra triple-choc cookie to Brodeur’s post-game hamper for every goal he conceded during the game, as a means of improving his mood.

I wonder if these college FA signings the Rangers are making are basically to restock the AHL with younger players that won’t count toward the veteran player limit. Nothing wrong with some risk/reward signings, but I don’t know how many of them are expected to make the NHL team.

Orr – from what I understand, Da Costa is a pretty highly coveted forward…rookie of the year last year…a playmaker(and center) who’s been described as “dynamic.” He’s put up some real sick numbers in the NCAA…I’d take him…

Tony – it’s fine. I am just joking around! I am glad other people saw that. I got it emailed to me on my iPhone and didn’t see the onion part so I thought it was real and he was coming back and was sooooo confused.

Tiki, I’m proud of you…you have been acting like a gentleman albeit without top hat and moustache, but we can’t have everything, right? As such:

Mao’s Minor League Extravaganza reports that the great Tiki has been called up from the farm system once again.

When asked how things were down there he remarked, ”Feels good to get the call, but there is a guy down there who constantly yells, ‘fire sather’ for no apparent reason. It does, however, make you feel good about yourself when you see such lunacy.”

manny – absolutely…..someday when we are dreaming, deep in love, a lot to say…..things prust will remember, be the only one, love me all the time prust…., we go on and on….i am just a lucky prust,

and lovely prust, lovely prust, lovely meter prust, nothing can come between us…filling a ticket in his lil white book….when you come take some tea with me….lovely meter prust…where would i be without you…lovely prust, meter prust…

Il Prust-ino
Prust is Beautiful
Prusts on a Plane
Rocky Prust Picture Show
The Dark Prust
Prust Begins
Prust Forever
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Prust
How to Succed at Prust Without Really Trying

500 Days of Prust
Prust Fidelity
I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Prust
American Prust
10 Things I Hate About Prust
National Lampoon’s Prust
Monty Prust and the Holy Grail
Prust Dundee
The Full Prust
Prust, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

“I’m going to make him a Prust he can’t refuse”
“I’ll get you my pretty and your little Prust too”
“I always rely on the kindness of Prust”
“Life is like a box of Prusts, you never know what you’re going to get”
“Here’s looking at you, Prust”
“Frankly my dear I don’t give a Prust”
“Say hello to my little Prust”

Cw – Carp talked about writing the schedule as a fall back when needing to bull dog a deadline. I guess that Yahoo piece is considered the new version of pasting the bloggers/writers comments and submitting as an article.

Any piece that has Damn Girardi as the possible brains of the team is discounted from the beginning.

Hahaha!!! No, I guess not, CTB – I just was wondering how an establishment becomes a “Buffalo bar” here in the city – I’m thinking that the owners would want their place to be known as representing someplace more “glamorous”!?

I can’t explain why, but there are plenty of bars in the city that are identified with other cities. Woogies in the W. Village is a Philly bar (they serve pretty authentic cheesesteaks). The Riviera also in the W. Village is a Boston bar as is the Hairy Monk in Murray Hill. There’s a bar a stone’s throw from MSG that’s a Pittsburgh bar.

well the bandwagon has been gearing up for a while now…personally i think we’re still building and a few year away (with a few more pieces from the pool of Hagelin, Kreider, Thomas, McIlrath, V-Tank, Pashnin, wow we have great prospects, etc). but its good to get some respect around the league for a change.

looking forward to tonights game, too many days off since the last one!!!!!!!